Yun Wenfang’s words left Yun Wenting stunned for a moment, then he could only smile bitterly and sigh.

Yun Qiuchen led Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi to bid farewell to Old Madam Yun, who naturally tried her utmost to make them stay. However, Xiao Jinglin insisted on leaving, and the Yun family couldn’t very well force them to stay, so in the end, they could only let Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi leave the Yun residence.

Just as Eldest Madam Yun and Yun Qiuchen were about to escort the two out through the second gate, a woman from the gatehouse came in to report that the eldest aunt had returned.

Ren Yaoqi was just wondering who this eldest aunt might be, then recalled that Old Madam Yun’s legitimate eldest daughter, Yun Shuhe, had married Su Keqin, the eldest master of the Su family. This eldest aunt should be Eldest Madam Su.

In recent years, the Yun and Su families had been in constant secret disputes over various interests. However, when the old Prince of Yanbei was alive, the two families had made compromises with each other to stabilize the situation in Yanbei. The marriage alliance between the Su and Yun families was a signal of both sides compromising and making peace.

Ren Yaoqi instinctively glanced toward Eldest Madam Yun. Upon hearing the news of the eldest aunt’s arrival, Eldest Madam Yun first froze, her brows slightly furrowing, then quickly composed her emotions and turned to instruct a maid to hurry and report to Old Madam Yun.

Xiao Jinglin said, “It’s not far from here to the second gate. If Eldest Madam has business, please go back first.”

Eldest Madam Yun smiled kindly: “What business could there be? It’s not even a few steps away. Old Madam instructed me to escort the Princess out personally. By the way, Princess, have you met our eldest aunt?”

Yun Qiuchen smiled and interjected: “Mother, the Princess rarely comes to visit, and eldest aunt seldom returns home even once a year. They probably haven’t met.”

Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment: “Eldest Madam Su? I’ve encountered her a few times at other occasions, but haven’t seen her at the Yun residence.”

Just as they were speaking, several people emerged from the moon gate leading to the front courtyard. Leading them was a middle-aged woman about the same age as Eldest Madam Yun, with attractive features. However, compared to Eldest Madam Yun, who was born in Jiangnan, this woman’s countenance appeared to carry several points more dignity. Even though she was currently smiling and slightly tilting her head to speak with a woman following half a step behind her, there was an imposing aura hidden in her brows and eyes.

That woman saw them too, and the smile on her face became even more evident as she quickened her pace to approach them.

“Elder sister-in-law… eh? The Princess is here too?”

Speaking thus, the woman very readily performed courtesies to Xiao Jinglin and Eldest Madam Yun, and the petite woman following behind her also bowed her head and followed in paying respects.

“Eldest aunt has returned?” Eldest Madam Yun greeted her with a gentle smile. “The Princess was just about to return home. Mother asked me to escort the Princess out on her behalf. Oh, is this the Su family’s eldest young madam?” Eldest Madam Yun shifted her gaze to the young woman.

“That’s right, this is Yu’er’s wife. This child was not accustomed to the local climate for a while and went through quite an ordeal, so she hasn’t come out much to show her face. Now that her health has improved, I’m bringing her to pay respects to her husband’s family elders.” Eldest Madam Su glanced at her daughter-in-law behind her, her face full of satisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi looked up and also gazed at that woman.

The Su family’s eldest young madam? She had never seen the Su family’s eldest young madam. But she knew this woman who married into the Su family from the capital was surnamed Zeng, and was Zeng Kui’s niece. Zeng Kui was later able to secretly communicate with the Su family largely due to Lady Zeng’s influence.

Lady Zeng had not been married into the Su family for long. Although she dressed as a married woman, her features still retained some youthful inexperience. She was more petite than the women of Yanbei, and perhaps because she was young and her face hadn’t fully matured, her appearance could only be called pleasant. At this moment, at her mother-in-law’s beckoning, she came forward with lowered brows and obedient eyes, appearing shy and timid as she spoke with others, truly indescribably well-behaved.

Ren Yaoqi looked at Lady Zeng, her hands hidden beneath her sleeves, clenched into fists, not even noticing as her nails dug into her palms.

Lady Zeng seemed to sense Ren Yaoqi’s gaze and looked over with some puzzlement. When she saw clearly that it was a young girl staring at her, she paused for a moment, then gave Ren Yaoqi a shy smile.

After Eldest Madam Su exchanged pleasantries with Eldest Madam Yun and Xiao Jinglin, she also noticed Ren Yaoqi and couldn’t help but feel puzzled: “This is?”

Eldest Madam Yun quickly said, “This is Fifth Miss Ren. She came as a guest with the Princess today.”

Eldest Madam Su reacted quickly and immediately understood Ren Yaoqi’s identity, nodding at her with a smile: “So you’re a young lady from the Ren family.”

Lady Zeng looked at Ren Yaoqi, her face reddening as she asked shyly: “Has little sister from the Ren family seen me before? Why are you looking at me like this?”

Lady Zeng’s words made everyone involuntarily look toward Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi naturally wouldn’t let others see her inner turmoil. Upon hearing this, she only smiled slightly: “I haven’t seen you before. However, I once heard from my seventh younger sister about her having a very skillful and clever elder sister-in-law, so I couldn’t help being somewhat curious. Please don’t take offense, Sister Zeng.”

Eldest Madam Su understood and laughed: “So little Ting went back and gossiped.”

Seeing that Lady Zeng still looked puzzled, Eldest Madam Su knew her daughter-in-law hadn’t recalled this connection, so she reminded her: “Our Ting girl and this Fifth Miss Ren are cousins. Ting girl has mentioned you, her elder sister-in-law, to her sisters at home.”

At this, Lady Zeng’s face became even redder.

Eldest Madam Su laughed aloud, appearing very pleased.

Ren Yaoqi also smiled as she looked at Lady Zeng.

Eldest Madam Su seemed very satisfied with this newly entered eldest daughter-in-law. A legitimate eldest daughter-in-law who blushed and acted shy at the drop of a hat, like a delicate young lady from a small family? Ren Yaoqi sneered inwardly – the Su family’s standards for selecting daughters-in-law were truly peculiar.

She didn’t believe this Lady Zeng was a gentle, harmless little white rabbit.

The group stood talking under the covered walkway, conversing quite harmoniously. At this time, two elderly women emerged from the inner courtyard – they were from Old Madam Yun’s side.

Eldest Madam Yun could tell at a glance that Old Madam Yun had sent them to receive the eldest aunt, so she smiled and said: “Mother already knows eldest aunt has returned and probably can’t wait to see you. You should go in first.”

Eldest Madam Su had brought her daughter-in-law today specifically to see the old madam about something, so upon hearing this, she readily agreed and took leave of Xiao Jinglin with her daughter-in-law.

The two groups passed each other – Yun Qiuchen led Eldest Madam Su and her daughter-in-law to see the old madam, while Eldest Madam Yun escorted Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi out through the second gate.

Once the two were seated in the carriage, Xiao Jinglin suddenly exhaled, as if instantly relaxing.

Ren Yaoqi, who had originally been immersed in her thoughts, was amused by Xiao Jinglin’s appearance and couldn’t help but tease: “Princess, why do I feel like you weren’t here as a guest but rather to endure punishment?”

Xiao Jinglin didn’t avoid the topic upon hearing this: “I’m most annoyed by dealing with these inner courtyard women. They insist on saying simple things in roundabout ways – such a waste of time.”

Ren Yaoqi said very sincerely: “But I think you did very well, Princess.”

Xiao Jinglin shook her head, then said: “Do you know that Su family’s eldest young madam?”

Ren Yaoqi was startled – she thought she had already explained this question earlier.

Xiao Jinglin seemed to understand what she was thinking and looked at her with a slight smile: “So that cousin of yours spoke ill of this Lady Zeng in front of you? Otherwise, why did your gaze toward her… carry killing intent?”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown. Killing intent? She thought she had disguised it well, at least enough to fool those people just now. Was her hostility really that obvious? This wasn’t a good thing.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s frowning expression, Xiao Jinglin’s lips curved: “Don’t worry, only I sensed it. Others couldn’t tell.” Xiao Jinglin paused in her speech, “But Lady Zeng married here from Jiangnan. You shouldn’t have seen her before, so how could you…”

Ren Yaoqi lowered her head without speaking, seemingly considering how to answer this question. Xiao Jinglin wasn’t in a hurry either – she had only asked casually, and if Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to answer, she wouldn’t force her.

After a while, Ren Yaoqi said softly: “This Su family’s eldest young madam’s appearance and temperament don’t quite match her status. I just don’t like people who are inconsistent in their outward and inner selves. Such people remind me of some unpleasant things.”

Xiao Jinglin seemed not to have expected to hear such words from Ren Yaoqi. She had never heard any negative evaluations of others from Ren Yaoqi before, yet regarding this Lady Zeng, whom she should have been meeting for the first time, Ren Yaoqi didn’t conceal her disgust. Xiao Jinglin couldn’t help but recall Lady Zeng’s every gesture and movement, and thinking about it, she also sensed something discordant.

Ren Yaoqi supported her chin with one hand, her gaze falling on the curtain corner blown open by the wind: “Just like how the Princess previously detected my so-called ‘killing intent’ – that same kind of feeling. I just feel this woman is not a good person.” Ren Yaoqi rarely showed such willfulness in giving someone such an unfounded conclusion.

Xiao Jinglin didn’t disapprove, but rather nodded: “I understand. Although this feeling has no evidence, it’s frighteningly accurate. When encountering enemies on the battlefield, it once saved my life. So you needn’t doubt your judgment – this Lady Zeng might not be anything good.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but laugh with a “puchi,” and most of the unpleasant emotions aroused by seeing Lady Zeng were dispelled by Xiao Jinglin’s words.

She thought this might be why she felt she got along well with Xiao Jinglin. If it were anyone else, they would consider her slandering a woman she was meeting for the first time to be quite unkind.